Daily TWiP - International Beer Day

Week in Preview

Welcome to Daily TWiP, your daily dose of all the holidays, historical observances, etc., we couldn’t cram into The Week in Preview.

Raise your glass and toast your bartender! Today (Aug. 5) is International Beer Day, a celebration of beer, fellowship, and the good people who facilitate beer’s transformation from a humble grain to a glorious libation.

First celebrated in 2007, International Beer Day was the brainchild of Jesse Avshalomov, who carried out the inaugural festivities with the assistance of Evan Hamilton, Aaron Araki, and Richard Hernandez. Their goal was to create a holiday that celebrated the enjoyment of beer and the companionship that comes from sharing a beer with friends, and also honored everyone, from brewers to bartenders, who had a hand in making it all possible.

International Beer Day began as a celebration at the founders’ local bar, but it has since expanded to become a worldwide event. Celebrations are planned today throughout the U.S. and in the Philippines, Turkey, Australia, Israel, England, Estonia, South Africa, and Canada.

You can find the exact locations of these official events at http://internationalbeerday.com, but you can also visit your favorite local watering hole and have an impromptu celebration with friends.

International Beer Day, however, is not just another evening at the bar. Participants are encouraged to give one another the gift of beer by buying each other drinks and to express their gratitude to their favorite brewers, bartenders, and so forth by means of generous tips, thank you notes, or whatever else may be appropriate.

In the international spirit of the holiday, it is also suggested that you step out of your domestic/locally brewed comfort zone and sample a beer from another culture. If you’re already a fan of international brews, try a beer from a country whose offerings you’re not already familiar with.

Here are a few international brands you may want to try:

Germany: Radeberger, Oettinger

Czech Republic: Pardal, Czechvar

France: Kronenbourg 1664

Poland: Zywiec

Belgium: Delirium Tremens, Brasserie Brunehaut

Mexico: Sol, Carta Blanca

Australia: Foster’s

China: Tsingtao

Japan: Sapporo, Kirin, Asahi

Truly, the enjoyment of beer knows no cultural boundaries. We encourage you to contribute to the holiday’s atmosphere of camaraderie and gratitude by celebrating responsibly.

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